Biography: Full-time state legislator; born March 1, 1958; degrees from Robert Morris College and Prairie State College, and holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communications and a Master's Degree in Communications and Training from Governors State University; received "Freshman Legislator of the Year" award from Illinois Health Care Association, named "Education Hero" by the Illinois Education Association, as well as receiving numerous other awards from advocacy and labor organizations; Appointed the Majority Leader in 2005, she is the first woman to hold that role in Illlinois;Married with four children, and three grand children, she and her husband live in Crete, Illinois.